Brain injury charity, Headway, is one of the main campaigners of pro-compulsion; they have been fighting to make it compulsory for children to wear safety helmets when cycling. Their call for a change in the law has been backed by other national charities including the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust. A spokesman for the charity MP Eric Martlew said on the topic: “It is a sad truth that a disproportionate number of cycling accidents involve children. It is essential we do as much as we can to protect vulnerable child cyclists and it is clear that cycle helmets can save lives. By introducing this new law we can start to reduce the number of children needlessly killed while cycling on UK roads each year.”
Chief executive of Headway, Peter McCabe agreed with Mr Martlew, he added: “To us, it is simple common sense. Surely wearing a helmet has got to provide one’s fragile skull with more protection that not wearing one. Evidence from countries that have already introduced compulsory helmet laws for children, including the USA, Australia and Canada, shows that they are successful in reducing the number of children killed or seriously injured in cycling accidents. We need a similar law here – now.”
Headway has taken their campaign for the compulsion of cycle helmets to the government. They have launched a petition on the website of 10 Downing Street in the hope that this will convince the government to change the law. To join in the campaign and sign the petition, go to Petition for wearing helmets
